Who is Travis Kelce? What Taylor Swift fans should know about the NFL star with Ohio ties

A potential love story could be in the making between a famous pop star and an NFL superstar.

Taylor Swift was spotted at a Kansas City Chiefs game Sunday afternoon with Travis Kelce's mother amid rumors the two celebrities have been "hanging out." The jury is still out on whether Swift and the Cincinnati Bearcats legend are officially dating, but the two left the game together in a convertible.

Despite his two Super Bowl rings, many Swifties could still be wondering, "Who the heck is Travis Kelce?" Here's what to know about the NFL star with Ohio ties.

How old is Travis Kelce?

Kelce was born Oct. 5, 1989 (that year sound familiar?), as the 33-year-old is a Libra. Swift was born Dec. 13, 1989, making her a Sagittarius.

Where is Travis Kelce from?

Kelce was raised in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and graduated from Cleveland Heights High School in Cuyahoga County in 2008.

Travis Kelce played college football for the University of Cincinnati Bearcats

Kelce committed to UC in 2013 and played alongside his older brother, Jason Kelce, who had already become a Bearcat two years prior. Travis accepted a scholarship from the university and initially joined the Bearcats as a two-star quarterback before changing to tight end. He played for UC from 2008-2012. During the 2012 season, he caught 45 passes for 722 yards and eight touchdowns.

Travis and his brother Jason Kelce faced off in Super Bowl 57

Travis and Jason were the first brothers to square off in a Super Bowl when their respective teams battled for the NFL championship Feb. 12 this year. Travis and the Chiefs ultimately won the game over Jason's Philadelphia Eagles (Taylor's favorite team), 38-35, which was the second Super Bowl title for Travis in his career.

Who are Travis Kelce's parents, Donna and Ed Kelce?

Donna and Ed Kelce, Kelce's mother and father, both grew up in Cleveland. Donna attended Ohio University, according to People Magazine. The couple wed in the late 1970s and raised their two sons in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. They were married for nearly 25 years before going their separate ways after Travis and Jason graduated college, People reports.

How did Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift meet?

In July, Kelce said on his "New Heights" podcast he wanted to give Swift a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it during one of her Eras Tour concerts.

“She doesn’t meet anybody – or at least, she didn’t want to meet me – so I took it personal,” Kelce joked.

It's unclear what happened after that, but The Messenger later reported in September that Kelce and Swift were "quietly hanging out." Jason Kelce then discussed the pair's relationship status Sept. 20 on Philadelphia sports radio station 94 WIP, saying he thought the rumors were "100% true." Whether or not the two celebrities are officially dating has yet to be confirmed.

Travis Kelce was a reality TV star

Kelce starred in an E! Entertainment Television reality dating show called “Catching Kelce.” The show premiered in October 2016, ran for eight episodes and followed the tight end's journey of dating 50 women from each U.S. state. Kelce ultimately chose contestant Maya Benberry, but the couple broke up in January 2017 after about a year of dating.

What are Travis Kelce's stats?

Travis finished the 2022 NFL regular season eighth in receiving yards with 1,338 and second in touchdown catches with 12, earning him his eighth career Pro Bowl nod and fourth first-team All-Pro selection. For his career, Travis has 825 receptions for 10,439 yards and 71 touchdown catches.

Who is Travis Kelce’s ex-girlfriend, Kayla Nicole?

Kayla Nicole, Kelce’s ex-girlfriend, is a journalist, model, host and influencer, Us Weekly reports.

She graduated from Pepperdine University in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism and has since worked for various national media outlets, including ESPN and Barstool Sports. As a model, Nicole has also served as an ambassador for several fashion brands, such as Crocs and Savage X Fenty. She also runs the fitness brand Strong is Sexy.

Nicole and Kelce initially met through Instagram in 2017, after the NFL star slid into the influencer’s DMs. The couple reportedly had an on-again, off-again relationship for several years before officially splitting in May 2022.

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